Bottle vending machine



July 225 1941. MH, VOlGTRlTTER 2,250,087

BOTTLE VENDING MACHINE Filed Ju1`y s, 1959 s sheets-sheet 1 .@136 j A t ZJ, /37 /ff $7 f m2@ l g W9 ,77 "i a /3/ ,a

July 22, 1941. M.v H. vol'GTRlTTER BOTTLE VENDING MACHINE Fil'edJuly 3, 1959 5 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

July 22, 1941- l M. H.vo1GTR11-TR 2,250,087

BOTTLE VENDING MACHINE Filed July 3, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 D INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

July 22, 1941. v M VH. voxGTRlTTER y V2,250,087

BOTTLE VENDING- MACHINE Filed Julyv s, 1939 s sheets-sheef 4 INVENTOR. Mvrfnmm ogz'lr.

- GJM. f

ATTORNEY.

July 22, 1941- M. HQ volGTRn-TER 2,250,087

OTTLE VENDING MACHINE 145-/ 3Y 152 /fs Patented July 22, 1941 BOTTLE VENDING MACHINE Max Hermann Voigtrltter, Chicago, Ill., asslgnor to Mills Novelty Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application .my a, 1939, semi No. 282,659

11 Claims.

This invention relates to bottle vending machines of the type in which a plurality of bottles are suspended in a refrigerated casing by means of an endless carrier which conveys the bottles successively to a position from which they are elevated into a delivery opening in the top of the casing, where they may be grasped by the hand of the customer. A machine of this type is disclosed in my co-pending application, led October 21, 1937, Serial No. 170,230, and thev object of the present invention in general is to improve in certain respects upon the construction shown in that application.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement for detecting when the supply of bottles in the machine has become exhausted or has reached a low point, or when an interruption occurs in the succession of bottles being fed to the delivery opening. This mechanism will prevent further operation of the machine and cause the display of an empty" indicator upon the occurrence of a single unfilled space in the conveyor at a predetermined point near the delivery opening, whereas in prior devices such a single space might be allowed to pass Without effect upon the subsequent operation of the machine.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement in which such mechanism will be temporarily actuated during each operation of the machine, so as to return to the customer any coin inserted while the machine is in operation, without operating said indicator.

Afurther object of the invention is to improve upon the conveying and elevating mechanism so as to render the transfer of bottles from the conveyor to the delivery opening more certain, to reduce bottle wearand injury, and to eliminate the possibility Aoi bottles becoming disengaged from the conveyor before they reach the delivery opening.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a bottle vending machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 1a is a plan` view on the plane Ia'F-Ia in Fig. l, the cover and the operating head being removed to illustrate the interior construction of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, vertical section of the same, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1a;

Fig. 3 is a partial transverse section taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, illustrating the elevating mechanism in side elevation;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of said mechanism, taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal, sectional view taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view illustrating the mounting of the conveyor rails;

l Fig. 7 is a detail view of the latch for latching the elevating mechanism in inoperative position; Fig. 8 is a, vertical sectional view through the casing of the operating head showing the mechanism in front elevation;

l Fig. 9 is a. right angle view of said mechanism,

taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a. horizontal sectional view of certain parts of said mechanism, taken on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a detail view, taken on the line II-II of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is an elevational view of the gearing beneath the operating head, being taken on the line I2--I2 of Fig. la.;

' Fig. 13 is Aa sectional view, taken on the line I3I3 of Fig. la; and Fig. 14 is a perspective mechanism.

Upon said drawings, the reference numeral I0 view of the trigger indicates a casing which may hold a body of cold frigerant, as, for example, an evaporative refrigerant compressed by a compressor employed in conjunction withI the machine, may be circulated.

In the upper region of the casing I0 is secured 4.0 a horizontal frame I2 on which the operating mechanism Within the casing is supported.

The bottles; which are indicated in Fig. 2 and elsewhere by the letter B, are supported in holders designated generally by the reference character H, such holders being suspended from rollers I3 which travel upon rails I4 suspended from the frame I2.

-The rollers I3 are secured to an endless conveyor chain I5 by means of yoke-shaped brackets I6 in which the rollers I3 are journalled and to which the holders H are attached by means to be later described.

Referring to Fig. 1a, the chain I5 travels around sprockets I1, I8, I9, 20, 2|, 22, and 23 in the order named, the sprockets Il, I8, I9, 20, and

the reach 30 of the conveyor.

2| being staggered with relation to each other so as to provide a series of substantially parallel stretches 24, 25, 26, and 2l of the chain I5, occupying the majorv portion of the space within the casing I0. The sprockets 22 and 23 guide the chain from the sprocket 2| around three sides of the interior of the machine to the pulley I'I, forming a side stretch 28, an end stretch 28, and another side stretch 30 in the order named.

The conveyor moves in the direction indicated by the arrow 3|, lower right of Fig. 1a. As the holders H turn the corner beneath the sprocket 23 and commence the stretch beneath the reach 30, they approach the elevating mechanism which is indicated generally by the reference character E in Fig. 2.

Said elevating mechanism E comprises a pair of spaced, channel-shaped guideways 32 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4), the ends of which are splayed, as indicated by the numeral 33, and secured to cross plates 34. Said guideways 32 are attached at their upper ends to the frame I2 by means of bolts 35 extended through the frame and through the splayed ends 33 of the guideways and the cross plates 34.

Mounted between the guideways 32 for vertical movement is an elevator carriage 36. Rollers v3'I, mounted on studs projecting from the corners of the carriage 36 are received between side anges 39 of the guideways 32 and allow the carriage 36 to travel freely up and down between the guideways. (See Fig. 5.)

In the rear side of the carriage 36 is a vertically extending recess 40, at the upper end of which is a lug 4I. A lifting chain 42 is attached to the carriage by an eye-bolt 43 extending through the lug 4| into the recess 48 and secured by nuts 44 threaded thereon and engaging the upper and lower sides of the lug 4I.

The chain 42 extends upwardly through an opening 45 in the plate I2, said opening being shown in Fig. 1a.

The elevator E is located on the outer side of of the reach 30, opposite the elevator E, is the mechanism, indicated generally at D in Figs. 3 and 4, which receives the bottle from the elevator, guides it upwardly through a delivery mouth 46 in the frame I2, shown in Figs. 1a and 3, and supports it in that position until it is removed by the purchaser. In the elevating operation, the bottle must be removed from the holder H and moved laterally from a position centered beneath the conveyor chain I5 to a position aligned with the axis of the opening 46. This is accomplished in the embodiment of the invention shown by swinging the entire bottle holder laterally until the lower region thereof contacts anA apron 4l of the delivery guide mechanism D, shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Such lateral movement is effected by means of a bottle engaging finger 48 formed integrally with the carriage 36 and projecting laterally from .the lower central region thereof. The upper surface of the nger 48 is inclined downwardly, as indi cated at 49, toward the end of the finger. The bottle is first engaged atv the upper extremity of the inclined surface 49, as shown in Fig. 3, and moves downwardly and outwardly on said inclined surface as the finger 48 moves upwardly.

As the holder H contacts the apron 4'! of the delivery guide mechanism, the bottle and holder will have swung from lthe iniital position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4.

The bottle holder H is vpreferably constructed so that the holder, rather than the bottle, makes the first contact with the apron 4'I. The object of this construction is to protect the bottle from chipping and wearing as a result of the impact against the apron. To this end, the lower region of the holder H has a portion 5| extending around the bottle on the side toward the apron. The opposite side of the holder is open from top to bottom, and the. bottom Is open with the exception of a flange 52 extending inwardly to form a seat for the` bottle, so that the elevator finger 48 may move upwardly from a position below the holder, engage the bottom of the bottle, and then move upwardly between side members 53 of the holder as it raises the bottle out of the holder and into the delivery mechanism. The portion 5I of the holder, in addition to serving as a guard member, also serves as a bridging connection between the side members 53. The upper ends of said side members 53 are secured at 54 to side members 55 of a fork-shaped hanger 56, having a web portion 5l connecting the arms 55 and secured at 58 to the roller bracket I6.

In contrast to prior arrangements, in which the I rail is above the chain and the chain is disposed On the other side between the roller bracket and the bottle holder, so that the weight of the bottle holder and bottle is at all times imposed upon the chain, the chain in the present construction is located above the roller, so that when the roller is traveling on the rail, the chain is supported on the roller bracket and under no strain. Only when the holders are traveling beneath a sprocket is the weight thereof imposed upon the chain.

Returning the elevating mechanism as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, it may be noted that the finger 48 at its outer end has its under side inclined upwardly as indicated at 62. After the elevator has completely elevated the bottle, the carriage is released and allowed to drop back to starting position. Should the bottle holder happen to have swung to a position in which the end of the descending nger 48 would strike the flange 52 of the bottle holder, the inclined face 62 would push the bottle holder away and avoid jamming.

The side of the carriage 36 which faces the bottle is provided with a recess 63 (Fig. 4) extending from the finger 48 to the top of the carriage. The bottle, as it approaches the elevator, moves -into the recess by riding against an inwardly inclined guide bar 200 (Figs. 2 and 5) which is attached to the carriage 36 and moves therewith. The recess 63 serves to position the bottle in centered relation to the finger 48. The finger 48 is relatively narrow and its sides are tapered toward its outer end, so as to avoid jamming of the finger against the flange 52 on the holder H.

'I'he delivery .guide mechanism D in addition to'` the apron 41 includes a sleeve 64 above, and as shown integral with, said apron, the upper end of said sleeve being provided with a flange secured at 66 to the underside of a flange |29 defining the opening 46 in the frame I2. The lower region of the apron 4l is inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the center of the sleeve as indicated at 68 and terminates in an outwardly inclined lip 69 which the portion 5| of the holder H is adapted to engage when said holder is swung outwardly, as shown in Fig. 4.

A trap door 13 is provided in the sleeve 64, being hinged to ears 'I6 on said sleeve by means of ahinge pin II extending through said ears and through ears I2 on the door. Said door normally rests in a horizontal position as shown in Fig. 4, being urged toward that position by a spring 14 coiled around the hinge pin 1|, said spring having one end 15 engaging the top of the trap door 13 and the other end 16 hooked into one ofthe ears 10.

The side central portions of said trap door 13 rest upon heads 11 of latch arms 18, said arms being disposed outside of the sleeve 64 on opposite sides thereof, and the heads 11 projecting laterally through openings 18 in said sleeve. The ends of the arms 18 opposite" the heads 11 are pivotally attached to lugs on ythe sleeve 64, by means of pintles 82 and a spring 83 is stretched between projections 84 on the respective arms 18 and urges said arms toward each other.

As the bottle B moves upwardly through the sleeve 64, it will engage and lift the trap door 13 and will then engage the inner faces of the heads 11, which faces are inclined downwardly and outwardly. and will thereby spread the latch arms .18 until it has passed them.V

. 'I'he sleeve. is cut away at 85 to provide clearance for the trap door 13 when the latter ls thus lifted. A stop 86 formed integrally on and projecting downwardly from the flange 65 is engaged by the upper end of the trap door 13 when the lattervis in raised position and limits its movement.

Said trap door 13 serves, when in closed position, to prevent unauthorized access to a bottle beneath the delivery opening, and when in raised position, it exerts yielding pressure against the bottle to oppose the tendency of the latter to tilt toward the right, viewing Figs. 3 and `4, under the upward pressure of the lifting ringer 48, thus aiding in guiding the bottle in aproperly centered position into the delivery opening.

Referring now to Figs. 1a and 2, the. elevator operating chain 42, after passing through the opening 45, passes over a pulley 81 journaled between two upwardly projecting ears 88 of a bracket 89,which is secured against the upper face of the frame |2 by means of screws 35. From the pulley 81 said chain extends to the left, viewing Fig. 2, to form part of a movement multiplying mechanism including a pulley 80 journaled in a bracket 8l secured to the end of an elevator operating bar 82; a pulley 83 journaled in the bracket 88; and a pulley 84.journaled in the bracket 8|. The chain 42 extends around these pulleys in the order named, and its end is fastened in an ear 85` bent laterally from one of the walls 88 of the bracket 88. The bracket 8| is U- shaped, as viewed from a'bove, and is attached to a downwardly-turned portion 86 on the end of the arm 92, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The operating mechanism is mounted onta base 81 (Figs. 1 and 2) which is secured to the frame |2 by means of screws 88. Journaled on a post 88 (Fig. 12) mounted in the base 81 is a drive pinion |00, adapted to be rotated by a coin-controlled mechanism to be hereinafter described. Jour- `naled upon` a post and supported upon a boss |02 projecting upwardly from the base 81, in which boss the post |0| Vis mounted, is a gear |03 which meshes with the pinion |00 and iS driven thereby.

The conveyor is driven by a Geneva drive mechanism including a driver |04 formed integrally with the gear |03 and a driven member |05 having six recesses |06 to receive at'intervals pins |01 on the driver, there being three such pins shown in the drawings. a

projecting upwardly from the base 81. Slidably mounted on top of the bar 82 is a second bar ||4 which is likewise guided between the rollers ||2. The bar ||4 has a laterally projecting finger ||5 which is adapted to be engaged by the roller y as the pinion |00 and arm ||0`rotate through one operating revolution in clockwise direction (viewing Fig. la). Engaging the lingen on its right side, as viewed in said Fig. 1a, the roller will move the bar ||4 to the left. The bar ||4 will carry with lt in this movement the lower bar 82 by reason of the connection of the left end of the bar I I4 with a hook ||1 formed on the end of the 4bar 92 and extending aroundand above the end of the bar I4. This movement of the bar 82 will cause the pulleys 80 and 84 to extend the reaches of the chain 42, drawing up the lower end of the latter and raising the elevator carriage 36 to a position near the top of the guideways 32.

The hook |I1 is connected by a coil spring ||8 to the upper bar ||4, one end of the c o`il spring being attached to the hook and the other end to a pin ||8 projecting upwardly from the bar ||4. The spring ||8 normally maintains the bar |4 in its position shown with its end in contact with the hook ||1, but allows the bar ||4 to be moved suiciently to the right, viewing Fig. 1a, to remove the finger ||5 from the path of the roller This is for the purpose of rendering the elevating mechanism inoperative while the convey@ ing mechanism remains operable, for loading purposes, the operator being able to continuously operate the conveying mechanism with his left the frame I2, where access may be had to either Thedriven member |05 is mounted on a spindle 75 the reach 28 or the portions of the conveyor passing around sprockets 20 and i8.

The bar ||4 may be moved to inoperative position by means of a, handle |20 formed on the end of a portion |2| of the bar ||4, the portion |2| being offset to clear the pulley yoke 8|. The bar ||4 may be latched in inoperative position by a latch lever |22, shown in Figs. 2 and 7. The lever |22 is pivoted on a shaft |23 on which the pulley 83 is also` mounted. Its end toward the bar ||4 is provided with a latching hook |24 positioned to engage beneath the handle |20 as the latter is pulledto the-right, to be depressed thereby and to latch behind the same under the pull of a spring |25, one end of which is attached to a linger |26 projecting upwardly from the lever |22, andthe other end of which is attached to a l of the top of the casing as said cover is moved to closed position after the refilling operation is completed. This causes the latch to be released, allowing the elevator operating arm ||4 to return to operative position.

In normal operation the conveyor and elevating mechanism are operated from the coin-controlled operating head shown in detail in Figs. 8-11 of the drawings.

As shown in Figs. 8 and 1a, an operating shaft 99a depending from the operating head, is adapted to rotate the pinion to which is loosely coupled at its lower end by means of a transverse coupling pin 89h mounted in its lower end and engageable in notches S9c in a collar 99d g on the top of the pinion.

The operating head is mounted in a casing |15 which is anged at the bottom and secured by screws |16 to a portion |11 of the top wall of the cabinet l0 over an opening |18 in said wall. Said head includes a bracket |32 attachable at its lower end to supporting bars |33 carried by the base 91.

In the upper part of the bracket |32 is journaled a shaft |34 carrying a bevel gear |35,meshing with a bevel gear |36 secured on the upper end of the operating shaft 99a. 0n the other end of the shaft |34 is a crank handle |31.

The shaft 89a is normally locked against rotation by a coin-controlled mechanism including a coin-receiving slot |38, a selector mechanism, indicated in rough outline form at |39, and a locking lever i40-. carrying at its end a coinreceiving pocket |4I in registry with the lower end of a good-coin delivery chute |42 of the selector unit. A'feeler pin |400. carried by an arm |401, which is adapted to be actuated by the initial, rotation of the shaft 99a, is movable into the pocket |4| and if a coin is present therein it will serve as a medium to transmit' the motion of the arm |40b to the lever |40 to move the same out of its normal position in which it prevents complete rotation of the shaft 99a. Details of this coin mechanism are shown and described in my application, Serial No. 170,230, above referred to, and reference is made to that application for a fuller explanation thereof.

The mechanism for causing rejection of coins when the machine is in operation and when an interruption occurs in the succession of bottles being fed to the elevator includes a lever |43 (see particularly Figs. l0 and 11) pivoted on a post |44 mounted on an ear |45 formed on the back plate |46 of the coin selector unit |39. The upper end of the lever |43 has a finger |41 projecting into the path of movement of the coins into the good-coin chute |42 as they are directed thereto after passing between magnets |48 forming part of the selector unit. The central part of the lever |43 whereby said lever is mounted on the post |44 is in the form of a yoke, identiied by the numeral |49. Aweighted arm |50 projecting from said yoke |49 serves to normally maintain the lever |43 in position with the finger |41 out o f the path of the coins.

Engaging the under side of the yoke |49 is a finger on a lever |52 which has a yoke portion |53 pivoted on a post |54 mounted in the ear |45. The other end of said lever |52 is attached to a rod |55 projecting downwardly through an opening |56 in the base of the bracket |32. Formed integrally with the yoke portion |53 of said lever |52 and projecting in the .same direction as the finger |5| is an arm |51. of the arm |51 has a laterally projecting ear |58 through which extends a vertical rod |59. The

The outer end upper end of said rod |59 is attached to one end of a lever |60 pivoted at |6| on an ear |62 formed on the back plate |46, the other end of the lever |60 being formed with a visible indicator |63 bearing the word emptyas shown at |64 in I Fig. 8.

visible indicator.

A lost-motion connection is provided between the rod |58 and the lever arm |51, comprising a pair of collars |65, |66 secured to the rod |59 in spaced relation, and a spring |61 disposed be- .tween the lower collar`|66 and the ear |58 on the arm |51, said ear being slidable on said rod beneath the collar |65. The purpose of this lostmotion connection is to allow the lever |52 to operate the blocking lever |43 during the initial stage of its movement and before operating the indicator |63.

The mechanism for operating the above-described lever |52 is designed to cause the latter to have a limited movement upon each vending operation of the machine, so as.V to cause any coins inserted during a cycle of operation to be rejected, such limited movement not affecting the visible indicator, and to have a longer stroke when an interruption occurs in the bottle supply, so as to operate both the blocking lever and the This mechanism will now be described, attention being called particularly to Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 14. I

From Figs. 2 and 14 it will be observed that the lower end of the rod |55 is normally supported by a lateral projection |10 on the end of one arm of a bell crank-lever |1| pivoted at |12 on an upwardly projecting post |13 on the base 91. As long as the rod |55 is thus supported, the lever |52 is maintained in a position in which the visible indicator |63 is in the raised position shown in full lines in Fig. 9, and the lever |43 is in the non-obstructing position shown in Fig. 11. When the support of the rod |55 is withdrawn, the indicator |63 is allowed to drop to the dottedline position shown in Fig. 9 wherein it is Visible through a window |14 in the casing |15 oi' the operating head, the weight of the indicator |63 and rod |55 at the same time causing the lever |43 to move into position to block entrance of coins into the chute |42.

The bell crank lever |1| is normally maintained in position shown in Fig. 2 by the engagement of a pin |82 (Figs. 2 and 14) mounted in the yoke 9|, against the intermediate region of a vertically disposed lever |83the upper end of which is linked by a rod |84 to an upwardly projecting arm |85 of the bell crank lever |'l|. The position shown in Fig2 is maintained as long as the machine is at rest. When elevator slide bar 92 and yoke 9| commence to move to the left, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 14, thus causing the pin |82 to move away from the lever |83, the downward push of the rod |55 on the lever |1| causes the rod |84 to move the lever |83 to the left to an intermediate position, limited by the engagement of the lever against a pin |66 extending through an elongated slot |81 in said lever |83 and mounted in an ear |88 on a bracket |88a secured to the frame l2. During this movement, the lever |83fu1crums around its lower end, where it is provided with a. laterally bent lug |89 engaging against the vertical edge of a step formed in one end of a trigger |9| which is pivoted at |92 on -an ear |83 on the bracket |88a.

This is the position in which the coin-blocking lever |43 is rendered operative while the visible indicator |63 remains inoperative, and it will be obvious from the foregoing that the coin mechanism will be conditioned to reject coins during a majorportion of Veach operating cycle of the machine, beginning shortly after the elevator commences. to travel upwardly, and terminatng when the elevator has almost reached the bottom of its movement on the return journey.

In order to confine the movement of the lever |83 within predetermined limits, the trigger I9I is provided with a second shoulder, I9Ia, and

with a ringer I9Ib, both projecting above the step |90 and being located on opposite sides thereof. A narrow neck portion I9 Ic of the trigger |9| between the finger |9Ib and the shoulder |90 isengaged by the lug |89 in the normal position of the parts shown in Fig. 2,-to support the trigger in the position shown. A lug |89a on the lower end of the lever |83"1imlts the downward movement of the left end of the trigger.

The other end of the trigger |9I projects into the path of movement of a pawl |84 '(see Figs. 2-5) mounted in the elevator carriage 35 on a shaft |95 which is journaled in bearings |98 on said carriage.

The shaft |95 projects past the guideway 32 on the side toward the approaching bottle holder, and is provided with a laterally-tumed arm |91 which normally projects beneath the position of the bottle next following the one that is in position to be elevated, said arm having at its end a fork |98 in which is journaled a roller |99 which contacts the bottle referred to as the carriage 38 moves upwardly, and rides alongthe side of the bottle. In doing so, the arm |91 is forced to assume a downwardly inclined position, causing the shaft |95 to rotate so as to move the pawl |94 into the recess 40 in the carriage 36, in which position the pawl |94 will clear by the trigger ISI when the elevator is raised.

'I'he pawl will be held in this position by a friction yoke 2| 8, secured to the pawl and extending into the recess 40 and frictionally engaging the sides thereof. When the elevator returns to its starting position the roller |99 will engage the cross plate 34 of the elevator guideway and will be thereby returned to its normal position shown in Fig. 3.

In order to prevent the bottle from swinging away from the arm |91 under the pressure of the latter, I provide a rest 202 (Fig. secured to the lower end of the apron 68 and having a curved end 203 adapted to engage the portion 5I of the bottle holder positioned opposite the arm |91.

When no bottle is present in the holder opposite the arm |91, the pawl |94 will be held in its outwardly projecting position by the frlctlonal engagement of yoke 2I6 in the recess 40`and,

205 (Figs. laf-4) to clear thebottle holder, vand has a downwardly projecting body portion 208 by means of which it is supported from the frame I2. The rails I4 are terminated short of the axes of the respective sprockets, but the body portions 208 of the respective rails extend beyond the ends of the rails |4 for attachment to supporting brackets. Where the reaches of the chain I5 curvevaway from the rail ends, the body portions 208 of those ends extend beyond the sprockets and are provided with upwardly extending bracket portions 201, the upper ends of which are secured to the lower side of the frame I2. Where the chain' curvesaround the ends of the rails, as in connection with the sprockets I8 and 20, the ends of the body portions 208 are secured to downwardly depending side arms of yoke-shaped brackets 208, the web portions of which are mounted on the lower ends of respective sprocket shafts 209 which are supported in theframe I2 and on which the sprockets are rotatably mounted.l

i In order to adjust the tension of the conveyor chain I5, an adjustment is provided for the sprocket I8, including an L-shaped bracket 2|0 (Fig. 1a) in which the upper end of the shaft 209 -is mounted; a threaded rod 2|.| mounted in the upwardly projecting arm of the bracket 2|0; and nuts 2|2 threaded onto the rod 2I| and engaging the opposite sides of an ear 2I3 projecting upwardly from the frame I2. Movement of the.shaft209 relative to the frame I2 is accommodated by an elongated opening 2|4 in the frame, through which the shaft projects.

'I'he movement of the yoke 20,8, which is caused by adjusting th'esprocket I 8, is allowed by a sliding connection between the rail beneath the reach 25 and the yoke208, on the one hand, and a sliding connection between the opposite end of the rail beneath the reach 24 of the chain, and the frame I2. The first-mentioned slidable conan elongated opening 2I5 in the body portion of the rail beneath the reach 25, and threaded into as the elevator nears the top of its travel, will engage the trigger |9I to move the left end of the latter downwardly, releasing the lug |89 of the lever I 83 from the step I 90 and allowing the lever |83 to pivot around the pin |88 to a third position (shown in Fig. 14) in which the portion |10 fof the lever |1| and the rod |55 are lfurther lowered and both the visible indicator |63 and the blocking lever |43 are rendered operative.`

IThe lever |83 will remain in this position, engaging above the step |90 and holding the lever |9I in the position to which it has been moved by the pawl |94, until it is reset by the operator.

It will now be evident that when a single bottle is missing inthe succession, the machine will be-locked against operation and the visible indicator will be displayed when the empty holder reaches the position just ahead of the elevator.

Each of the rails I4 is laterally oii'set as at at ma.

the yoke 208. The second-mentioned slidable connection comprises a bolt 2 I6, extended through a slot 2 I1 in the bracket portion 201, and secured in the frame I2. Thus theends of the rails which support the regions of the chain approaching the respective sprockets are maintained in xed relation to the sprockets so as to avoid any possi-P bility of the chain sagging suiilciently to `run oft' a sprocket. y

The cover sections I 3| and |11 are hinged together at |19 and are provided with marginal iianges to rest upon the upper edges of the walls of the casing I0. The cover sections and the casing I0 are of double-Wall construction, filled with insulating material IBI. The outlet Vopening in the coverv section |3I is indicated by the numeral 45a.' A coin-return tray is'shown In the operation of the machine, a coin Ais inserted in the receiving opening I 38, and the crank |31 is rotated lthrough one revolution. 'Ihe bevel gears |35 and |36 transfer this rotative movement to the shaft 99a and then to the pinion I 00, which drives `the gear |03. The Geneva driver |04, formed integrally with the gear I 03 will, after the crank has been turned a short distance, engage the driven member |05 and, during about degrees of rotation of the driver |04, will rotate the shaft |08 sixty degrees. This will cause the conveyor chain to be advanced a distance corresponding to the distance between two bottle holders, and a full holder will be positioned opposite the elevator carriage 38. After a very short interval, the roller of the arm will engage the finger ||5 of the elevator slide bar ||4, drawing the bar ||4 and with it the bar 9,2 to the leftl as viewed in Fig. 1a.

This will cause the elevator carriage 36 to move upwardly between the guideways 32, whereupon the finger 48 will engage the bottle, swing the bottle and its holder laterally against the apron 88, then tilt the upper end of the bottle into the apron 68, and then raise Athe bottle into the sleeve 64 and through the mouth 48.

After the elevator has traveled a short distance, the pin |82 will release the lever |83 to a position where the coin-blocking lever |43 is temporarily rendered operative to block any coins subsequently inserted in the opening |38, and cause them to be returned to the operator through the coin-return chute 42a. The coin mechanism will remain thus locked until the cycle of operation of the machine is almost completed, whereupon the pin |82 will again engage the lever |83Vand move the blocking lever |43 to inoperative position.

If a bottle is present in the next holder, the pawl |94 will be moved to inoperative position and will pass by the trigger |9| without affecting the fempty indicator. If a bottle is absent from the said holder, the pawl |94 will, when the carriage 38 nears the top of its journey, engage the trigger |9| to release the lever |83 and allow the empty indicator to drop to indicating position. The releasing of the lever |83 will also cause the coin chute to remain blocked until the operator refills the machine, as a result of the lower end of the lever |83 having been shifted to the right so that even though the pin |82 returns to normal position, shown in Fig. 2, as

the elevator returns to its position of rest. the upper end of the lever |83 will not be held far enough to the right to retract the lever |43.

asados? ing bottles successively to a position in the vicmity of said opening, means for projecting a bottle thus positioned into said opening, and a device for rendering the machine inoperable upon the occurrence of an interruption in the succession of bottles approaching said opening, said device including a feeler carried by said bottle projecting means and adapted to contact the side of a bottle subsequent in the line of succession to the l0 one being projected, to render said device ineffective as long as there is a bottle in position to l be contacted by said feeler and to render the After lling the machine, the operator may reset no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the `appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art v I claim as my invention: 1. In a bottle dispensing machine, a casing having a bottle delivery opening, means for feeding bottles successively to a position in the vicinity of said opening, means for projecting a bottle thus-positioned into said opening, and a device for rendering the machine inoperable upon the occurrence of an interruption in the succession of bottles approaching the opening, said device including a feeler carried by said bottle-projecting'means and adapted to travel longitudinally of and in contact with the side of a bottle subsequent in the line of succession to the one being projected, and means controlled by said feeler and adapted to render said device ineffective as long as there is a'bottle in position to be contaoted by said feeler and to render the same eiective when no bottle is present in said position to prevent further operation of the machine until said device is reset by the operator.

2. In a bottle dispensing machine, a casing having a bottle delivery opening, means for feedsame effective when no bottle is present in said position to prevent further operation of the machine until said device is reset by the operator` 3. In a bottle dispensing machine, a casing having a. bottle delivery opening, means for feeding bottles successively to a position in the vicin- Y ity of said opening, means for projecting a bottle thus positioned into said opening, a device for rendering the machine inoperable upon the occurrence of an interruption in the succession of bottles approaching said opening, and means for operating said device, said operating means including a feeler carried by said bottle-projecting means and adapted to travel longitudinally of and in contact with the side of a bottle subsequent in the line of succession to the one being projected, a trigger-actuating pawl carried by said bottle-projecting means and operatively connected to said feeler so that its position is determined by the position of the feeler, a trigger disposed in the path of said pawl as positioned when said feeler is not in engagement with a Ybottle and being clear of the path of said pawl as positioned when said follower is in engagement with a bottle, and means controlled by said trigger when actuated by said pawl for causing actuationof said operating means.

4. In a bottle vending machine, a casing having a bottle delivery opening, means for successively projecting a plurality of bottles into said opening, a device for rendering the machine inoperable at certain times, an indicator for indicating interruption of the bottle supply, and means for operating said` device and said indicator, said operating means being constructed and arranged to maintain both the indicator and said device in inoperative position when the bottleprojecting means is in its normal position of rest, to render said device but not said indicator temporarily operative during each projection of a bottle, and to render both said device and said indicator operative upon interruption of the supply of bottles to said projecting means.

v5. In a bottle vending machine, a casing having a bottle delivery opening, means for successively projecting a plurality of bottles into said opening, a device for rendering the machine inoperable at certain times, an yindicator for indicating interruption of the bottle supply, and means for operating said device and said indicator, said operating means being constructed and arranged to maintain both the indicator and said device in inoperative position when the bottle-projectng means is in its normal position of rest, to render said device but not said indicator temporarily operative during Yeach projection of a bottle, and to render both said device and said indicator operative upon interruptionY of the supply of bottles to said projecting means, said operating means including means movable a limited distance upon each operation of the machine to render said operation-preventing device temporarily effective duringthe cycle of operation and movable a further distance to operate said indicator when such interruption of the bottle supply occurs.

6. In a bottle vending machine, a casing having a bottle delivery opening, a trame, means for dicating interruption oi' the bottle supply, means` for operatingv said bottle-projecting means, including a reciprocating part, and means for operating said operation-obstructing device and said indicator, said last means including a lever having a lost-motion pivotal connection with the frame, a trigger normally engaging one end of said lever to form a fulcrum around which said lever may swing from a first position in which both said operation-obstructing device and said indicator are held in inoperative position to a second position in which said indicator is still inoperative and said device is temporarily operative, said lever being engaged by said reciprocating part when the latter is in its normal position of rest, ,and thereby held in its iirst position, and being released so as to assume its second position during each operationof the bottle-projecting means, and means carried by the bottle-projecting means and eiectivel upon an interruption of the bottle supply for causing said trigger to release said lever for pivotal movement around said pivotal connection to a third position in which both said operation-obstructing device and said indicator are rendered operative.

7. In a bottle dispensing machine, a casing having a bottlel delivery opening, a bottle conveyor for moving the bottles successively to a position in the vicinity of said opening, means for projecting into said opening a bottle thus positioned, means under the control of the operator for actuating said -bottle-projecting means, and means other than said bottle projecting means rendered temporarily effective' by said actuating means upon each operation of the machine to prevent a further operation until the cycle of operation is completed.

v8. In a bottle dispensing machine, a casing having a bottle delivery opening, a botle convey- 10. In a. bottle dispensing machine, a casing having a delivery opening, means for feeding bot-k tles successively to an upright position substantially below said opening, and an elevator including a carriage having a laterally projecting nnger adapted to extend centrally beneath a bottle disposed in said position, said linger having an upper bottle engaging surface sloping downwardly toward its free end at such an angle that a bottle engaged thereby will slide laterally down said sloping surface, and guide means disposed opposite said elevator for receiving the bottle and guiding it into said opening.

11. In a bottle dispensing machine, a casing having a delivery opening, conveying means for carrying bottles successively to an upright position substantially below said opening, said conor for moving the bottles successively to a posily elective, until the machine is reset, when therev is no bottle present at said point.

9.` In a bottle dispensing machine, a casing having a bottle delivery opening, a bottle conveyor for moving the bottles sucessively to a position in the vicinity of said opening, means for projecting into said opening a bottle thus positioned,

means under the control of the operator for actuating said bottle-projecting means, and means including a detector controlled by the presence or absence of a'bottle at a predetermined point in the line of succession of vsaid bottles for preventing further operation of the machine until resetting in case there is no bottle present at said point.

veying means including bottle holders suspended from their upper ends so that their lower ends may swing laterally, an elevator including a carriage having a bottle-supporting member and including a vertical portion having a recess disposed above said supporting member'and adapted to position a bottle in centered relation to said supporting member, and a guide member carried by said carriage and adapted to engage a bottle approaching said carriage and to swing said bottle laterally to cause the same to clear a side region of said carriage and to enter said recess.

12. In a bottle dispensing machine, a casing having a delivery opening in its top,'means for feeding bottles successively to an upright position substantially below said opening, said means comprising an endless conveyor including a plurality of depending bottle holders having lower regions substantially 1-shaped` in horizontal cross-section and each provided with a bottlesupporting flange projecting inwardly for supporting the bottom of a bottle, and an elevator including a ringer adapted to project within the space deiined by said C-shaped lower portion, to move upwardly therethrough, and to return downwardly therethrough to its initial position, l

said nnger having the lower side of its outer end inclined downwardly and away from said bottlesupporting ange in the holder so that in the event said ilange is contacted by said linger on its downward movement the holder will be moved laterally out of the path of the finger without damage.

13. In a bottle dispensing machine, a casing having a bottle delivery opening in its top, means for conveying bottles successively to a position below and at one side of the axis of said opening,

guide means on the other side of said axis,

adapted to receive the bottle and guide it into said opening, and elevating mechanism adapted to engage the bottle from below, to first swing for conveying bottles successively to a position below and at one side of the axis of said opening, guide means on the other side of said axis,

adapted to receive the bottle and guide it into said opening, and elevating mechanism adapted to engage the bottle from below, to first swing the bottle laterally into substantial alignment with said axis, and to then raise the bottle into said opening, said conveying means including a plurality of bottle holders suspended from their upper ends so as to swing laterally under the push of the elevator, each holder including a lower region disposed between the bottle and the guide means and adapted to contact the latter during said lateral swinging movement, said lower region having an opening in its bottom and in its side opposite said guide means so as to allow a portion of the elevator to move upwardly therethrough, the upper region of said holder comprising a pair of diametrically opposed arms forming a continuation of said lower region, said arms being spaced apart to provide an opening therebetween forming .a continuation of said opening in the lower region, and said holder having on its opposite side another opening above said lower region through which the bottle may 16. In a bottle dispensing machine, a casing having a bottle delivery opening, a frame in the upper region of said casing, an endless conveyor suspended below said frame for conveying bottles successively to said opening, said conveyor including a plurality of reaches extending back and forth across the central region of said casing, and a plurality of reaches extending around three sides of the space within said casing and encircling said back-and-forth reaches, said frame having an opening shaped and positioned to give access to one of said encircling reaches and to one or more adjacent return bendsof said backand-forth reaches.

17. In a bottle dispensing machine, a casing having a delivery opening, and an endless conveyor for carrying bottles successively to said opening, said conveyor including a chain, sprockets around which said chain travels, rail sections on which the reaches of said chain between said sprockets are supported, and an adjustment for taking up slack in said chain, including means for adjusting one of said sprockets, a shaft on which said sprocket is rotatably mounted, a bracket carried by said shaft and supporting the ends of two of said rail sections, an adjustable connection between one of said rail. sections and said bracket, and an adjustable connection between the other end of the other of said rail sections and said frame.

, MAX HERMANN VOIGTRI'I'I'ER. 

